Molded elastomer doffer



J. E. SADLER ETAL 3,277,639 MOLDED ELASTOMER DOFFER Filed Oct. 3.1, 1963 INVENTORS JAMES E. SADLER ARNIM R. BRANDT United States Patent 3,277,639 MOLDED ELASTOMER DOFFER James E. Sadler, Memphis, Tenn., and Arnirn R. Brandt,

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assignors to International Harvester Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Oct. 31, 1963, Ser. No. 320,420 7 Claims. (Cl. 56-41) This invention relates to cotton pickers and more specifically to a novel dofiing means therefor.

Heretofore most dofiers comprised a metallic plate portion and an elastomer dofler portion bonded thereto. Several attempts have been made to provide a dofler made of rubber with fabric reinforcements. In general, such reinforcement serves to prevent the rubber from disintegrating but it does not adequately control the flexibility of the disk and therefore it is virtually impossible to position and hold the doifing lugs in proper relation with reference to the spindles over which the dofler weeps.

A general object of the invention is to provide a novel dofier which is of molded elastomer material and wherein the dofling lugs are backed up by a continuous metallic ring imbedded within the disk while the center portion is freely flexible.

More specifically, the invention comprehends the provision of a novel dofler which comprises a molded disk of rubber or like elastomer material with integral axially directed doffing lugs about the periphery thereof, the lugs only being backed by a metal ring which is disposed in axial alignment with the dofling lugs.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel doffer of molded rubber and the like wherein the dofling lugs are integrated by a metallic or rigid ring such that the bodily deflection of the lugs axially of the dofrer is resisted and controlled.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel dotfer of the type disclosed wherein the metal ring is so arranged that it serves to prevent the dofiing lugs from individually flexing transverse to the plane of the disk to such an extent as would distort the disk and thus pull away the adjacent doffing lugs from the spindles.

It has been learned that in order to obtain a proper dofling effect the lugs must be constructed to provide sharp corners. These corners must be so oriented that they will dig into the cotton lint which is wound on the spindle and thus unwrap the lint from the spindle which is rotating in a direction of winding on the cotton but at a lower speed than the doffer which unwinds the cotton and sweeps the cotton 01f the spindle.

Thus, it is imperative that the lugs have flexibility, but such flexibility must be so controlled that it will not disrupt the action or the presentation of the dofling lugs to the spindles.

A broad object of the invention is to provide a novel doffer of molded rubber or the like wherein means are provided for controlling the flexing of the dofling lugs and to provide proper orientation-of the lugs with respect to the picker spindles.

These and other objects and advantages inherent in and encompassed in the invention will become more readily apparent from the specification and the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a bottom plan view of the novel dofier disk incorporating my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a radial sectional view of the disk taken substantially on line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary edge view of the doifer disk; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of FIGURE 2.

3,277,639 Patented Oct. 11, 1966 Describing the invention in detail, and having particularly reference to the drawings there is-shown a doffer disk generally designated at 2 which comprises a metallic center hub 3 which is oriented about the axis of rotation designated x, of the dofler, said hub being molded to be a sleeve 4 which forms part of the disk generally designated 5 which is of elastomer material such as rubber, or synthetic rubber or the like which preferably has the same hardness of between 60 and 70 durometer. The sleeve 4 bonds to the hub 3 and at its upper end portion 6 is integrally united with the inner periphery of the web portion 8 of the disk 5. The web portion 8 is an annular structure and extends radially outwardly with respect to the axis of rotation X of the doifer assembly and along its outer peripheral edge portion is formed with a thicker ring or annulus 10. The annulus 10 is of the width of the doffing lugs 12 which are integrally united therewith and project from the bottom side 14 of the plate portion 8. These lugs 12 are disposed in regular intervals in a circular array about the axis X of the doffer and each comprises radially inner and outer circumferential edge portions 16, 18 and radial sides 20 and 22 and a substantially flat bottom surface 24 which is adapted to sweep over the spindles as well known to those skilled in the art.

It will be seen that the surfaces 16, 20 and 22 develop cotton snagging points 28, 30 which are coincidental with the outer peripheral edge 32 of the doffer disk. The surfiaces 24 of the lugs are coplanar. In operation it is necessary that these surfaces be maintained substantially in the common plane so that the point 28, 30 may properly engage to the cotton on the spindle which passes beneath the dotler. It has been found in providing a doffer which has an elastomeric body content even with some fiber or cotton cord, that the stabilizing effect is inadequate and the dofiing lugs flex excessively such that there is poor, if any, control over the lugs in their disposition and presentation with respect to the spindle. Furthermore, in such doifers any material which may wedge between the spindles and the center portion comparable to the web portion 9 of the web 8 in the regions indicated at 34 tends to distort such plate to an extent that the lugs are moved out of registry with the spindles and cannot engage the cotton.

The feature of the present invention is in the provision of a rigid, annular thin steel wire ring 36, which in the present dofi'er with an overall diameter of 7.30 is .063 thick by .125 in width and is round edged and a full hard temper SAE No. 1050 flat Wire stock. The metal ring designated 36 is disposed between the inner and outer peripheries 40, 32 of the web or ring portion 14 and has its outer edge 42 substantially centered with respect to the lugs 12. The ring spans all of the lugs and thus maintains the lugs 12 in circumferential alignment and resists individual bodily flexing of the lugs. The ring 36, in being positioned between the inner and outer ends 44, 46 of the lugs permits the outer end portions 46 of the lugs to flex axially individually in a rocking or pivoting action about the associated segment 48 of the ring 36 without substantially distorting or materially influencing the action of the adjacent lugs which are separated by the sectors or segments 50 of the web 14 therebetween. Axial deflection of the inner end portions 44 of the lugs is further restricted by means of the ribs 52 which are integrally united with the underside 14 of the web 9, said ribs being axially thicker at their inner end portions 56 where they merge with the sleeve 4 and being progressively thinner and tapering toward their radially outer ends 58 whereat they mrge into the inner peripheral edge 40 of the annulus 14. The ribs 52 have an axial width slightly less than the space of the web portions 50 and are in radial alignment with alternate web portions 50, whereby two lugs 12, 12 are between each pair of adjacent ribs 52. The

inner ends 18 of the lugs slope from their bottom surfaces 24 upwardly and inwardly as best seen in FIG- URE 2.

Thus, it will be seen that a novel and elficient doffer structure has been provided wherein the flexing of the respective dotting lugs is accommodated in a manner of a rocking action for each lug and yet the metal ring which has a radial width of .125" as compared to a width of .88 the face of a lug accommodates axial canting of the lugs in radial planes and inhibits excessive deflection of the lugs such as would affect the operation of the adjacent lugs. The ring further maintains all of the lugs in a predetermined planar relationship and controls axial upward deflection of the disk so that it will not deflect to such an extent as to cause it to engage with the underside of the spindles thereabove.

Having described the preferred embodiment of the invention it will be readily apparent that various other forms of the invention will become evident to those skilled in the art within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a doffer assembly, a molded disk of elastomer material having a hardness of 6070 durometer, a plurality of dofling lugs integral with the disk and projecting from one side thereof and having coplanar doffing surfaces, and a rigid metal ring connected with .said disc and in axial alignment with said lugs and interconnecting the same to float as a unitary structure.

2. The invention according to claim 1 and said lugs having inner and outer end portions, said outer end portions projecting outwardly of the ring and independently flexible at said outer end portions axially of the disk.

3. The invention according to claim 1 and said lugs having inner and outer end portions projecting respectively inwardly and outwardly of the ring and flexible transversely with respect thereto inwardly and outwardly thereof axially of the disk.

4. In a dofier assembly, a hub, a disk of elastomer material thereabout having a peripheral edge and a plurality of axially projecting lugs integral with the disk along said periphery, and a rigid ring connected with said disk in axial alignment with said lugs, said ring having an internal diameter less than the diametrical span of said disks 5. The invention according to claim 4 and said disk having an annulus of elastomer material at said lugs of .greater radial width than said rigid ring.

6. The invention according to claim 4 and said ring having an outer diameter less than the diameter of said disk. 1

7. The invention according to claim 4 and said ring having an outer diameter less than the diameter of said disk and said lugs elongated radially of the assembly and having outer end portions disposed outwardly of said ring, said outer end portions independently flexible axially of the disk, said lugs having coplanar doffing surfaces, said ring rigidifying said disk in the region of said lugs, and maintaining said lugs with at least portions of said dofr'ing surfaces thereof substantially coplanar.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,693,071 11/ 1954 Parkerton 56-41 2,847,815 8/1958 Radow et al. 56-41 ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

RUSSELL R. KINSEY, Examiner. 

1. IN A DOFFER ASSEMBLY, A MOLDED DISK OF ELASTOMER MATERIAL HAVING A HARDNESS OF 60-70 DUROMETER, A PLURALITY OF DOFFING LUGS INTEGRAL WITH THE DISK AND PROJECTNG FROM ONE SIDE THEREOF AND HAVING COPLANAR DOFFING SURFACES, AND A RIGID METAL RING CONNECTED WITH SAID DISC AND IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID SLUGS AND INTERCONNECTING THE SAME TO FLOAT AS A UNITARY STRUCTURE. 